updated 03:45 pm EDT, Sat September 3, 2011

NetApplications August 2011 desktop, mobile share

Apple broke through a symbolic barrier at the start of September as a study of desktop market share from NetApplications revealed that it had broken through the six percent mark in desktop usage share for the first time. The Mac hit 6.03 percent in August and had gained nearly a full point over the course of one year. Although it had yet to dislodge Microsoft from its dominant spot, almost all the gain was at Windows' expense, as the OS dipped from nearly 94 percent last August to 92.9 percent.

The new results also represented the first time NetApplications could break out mobile usage on its own and revealed that Android had far less control of mobile device usage when non-phone hardware came into play. iPads, iPhones, and iPod touch players combined were in the majority at 53.04 percent where Android, even with a rapid gain, was just short of 16 percent. The iPhone would still be in front in total devices owned by itself, NetApplications said: 27.39 percent were iPhones, while 22.5 percent were iPads and 3.14 percent iPods.

Android 3 tablets combined had 0.46 percent.

BlackBerry traffic in this expanded view was just 3.33 percent, and Nokia's Symbian was at 6.21 percent. Microsoft was still distant but had some consolation in Windows Phone's share. Despite Gartner share data that showed Samsung's Bada on top, Windows Phone at 0.22 percent was still being used more than Bada, which rested at 0.07 points.

Browser results were more favorable to Google. On the desktop, Chrome hit an all-time high of 15.51 percent, up over a point, where Safari dipped to 4.64 percent. Microsoft again hit a new low at 55.31 percent. Again looking at mobile share for the first time, Safari's role as the stock mobile Safari browser on iOS gave it a virtually identical 53 percent command of the mobile space. Android's official browser had leapt up to 15.73 percent, but it was still significantly behind Opera Mini, whose cross-platform nature kept it at 20.77 percent .

As before, NetApplications results reflect current users and not total shipments. They still imply that Apple has considerably more control of the desktop and mobile spaces than portrayed elsewhere, particularly in studies elsewhere that only cover smartphones. The iPad's majority lead in tablets and Google's near-complete absence in MP3 players have reduced Android's perceived impact.

Hmm

Just the beginning

These are internet statistics covering the current PC installer base, Apples share with new machines must be around 12% by now or higher. iPads essentially also competing with PC's would have a share of about 20% of new PC's and growing.

Upgradeable Mac?

It isn't much of a gain in

desktop share, but considering Apple is only one company, it's making an awful lot of money with every .10% gain in market share. Apple is making very decent profit from every computer it sells. Every computer that is sold with OSX means there's one less computer being sold with Windows on it. If Apple can continue to gain 1% in desktop market share every year for the next five years, that will be impressive growth and a lot of added revenue for Apple. If Apple can also manage to move 50 million iPads a year and 100 million iPhones a year, Apple will be by far the richest tech company, ever.

@yticolev

Don't be sarcastic or snarky. You clearly understand that facebook_Robert is referring to an AFFORDABLE system that is upgradable. I would be happy with something akin to a modern Apple IIci with a bit of upgradability, small size, and reasonable price. THAT is the Mac I would like to buy.

Worldwide market share

These statistics are in regard to world-wide market share, not U.S. market share. When you leave out the rest of the planet, Apple does have >10% market share in the U.S., and it has been rising quite a bit over the past few years. Various tech pundits prefer to use the world-wide market share figures when saying that Apple is not having much success or is treading water. The fact is, the Mac user base in the U.S. has been growing rapidly while worldwide it is growing but not nearly as fast, primarily due to the fact that there are not Apple Stores in every major city around the world or even sales of Apple products in smaller stores for that matter, so it stands to reason that their worldwide market share should be less than here. But that does not negate the fact that they are growing fast here in the U.S. Just go into any Apple Store to see that in action.